Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby

62 reviews

henriii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.0

i don't usually read thrillers, but i wanted to read more books by southerners; SA Cosby is from newport news, va, and it was wild reading this book, recognizing locations that i'm familiar with, and putting all of bug's excursions on a mental map.

this felt like an action movie in book form and was hard to put down. i finished it in three sittings. 

i didn't love the pained feeling i was left with at the end, when bug is standing in the wake of so much desolation and destruction with no real resolution, but that was a matter of preference rather than writing, and

i would read more from this author when i'm looking for an action-packed, suspenseful read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and Gun violence

alyshab2005's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Sexism, and Car accident

Minor: Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, and Racism

greatestheights's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Racism, and Gore

riddlemesphinx's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Drug use, Cursing, Death, Gore, and Gun violence

Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming

avibc316's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Violence

directorpurry's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, and Violence

karina_dreamsinwords's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

You know those instances where you know the situation unfolding is about to go South, but you just cannot look away?

That’s how this whole book felt & I loved it!!

This isn’t your typical thriller so don’t go into this with that mindset. This story is noir at its finest— fast paced yet somehow slow moving at the same time with Cosby’s intricate storytelling. This book gets violent, gruesome, and goes to show the lengths people go to in order to protect their family.

Cosby doesn’t shy away from visceral descriptions, so be aware of that when picking up any of his novels.

If you enjoy multiple POVs, heist storylines, and the Fast and the Furious franchise, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Vomit, and Blood

Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use

readnoot's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

This novel is among the apex of modern works of literary fiction. It will come to be understood as a window into a distinct experience within American culture, and for this, it will become a classic that is referred back to in the same way books considered classics today are revisited. Cosby constructs a vivid depiction of people and places dismissed by time and circumstance, leaving readers with an eery feeling of familiarity with those very characters and settings. I was so engrossed by the plot that I turned the last page fully expecting the story to continue, only to be shocked that there was no more left to read. Although some elements were perhaps fantastical at times, this novel never departed from reality in emotions portrayed, decisions made, or cards dealt. This is an enduring tale.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Gun violence

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Cancer

rjohns5's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence

josie2k's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Blood, Toxic relationship, Murder, Car accident, Violence, Death, Alcoholism, Cursing, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Torture, and Racial slurs